SculptureNow to Relaunch as Sculpture at The Mount

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LENOX, Mass. — The Mount, Edith Wharton's Home, announced that the annual outdoor sculpture exhibition produced in the Berkshires by SculptureNow for the past twenty-five years—and at The Mount for nine years—has been brought in-house as a formal Mount program, beginning with the 2024 exhibit. 
 
With the retirement of SculptureNow's founder and executive director, Ann Jon, the timing was right for a transition.
 
Founded by Jon in 1998, SculptureNow established itself as a platform for contemporary sculpture in Western Mass and beyond, showcasing the work of both emerging and established artists. As the annual sculpture exhibit transitions to The Mount's stewardship, the show will continue to feature a diverse range of sculptures in many sizes and media thoughtfully sited throughout the estate.
 
Susan Wissler, executive director of The Mount said, "By formally integrating SculptureNow into our programming, there is great synergy between Wharton's literary legacy and the compelling narratives expressed through contemporary sculpture. We are grateful to Ann Jon and her decades of hard work to provide artists and visitors alike with a space to explore the intersection of literature, sculpture, and nature. She blazed a trail for sculpture in our region."
 
Ann Jon, professional artist, curator, and art educator, shared that "25 years ago, sculpture was sometimes not considered 'fine art'. I am gratified that so many people have interacted and connected with this art form of large-scale sculptures presented on the beautiful grounds of The Mount. I look forward to seeing the exhibitions continue under The Mount's leadership."
 
In 2023, SculptureNow at The Mount welcomed 55,000 visitors. The exhibit is a destination for collectors and visitors and has been favorably reviewed by Sculpture Magazine, the New York Times, National Public Radio, the Boston Globe, Art New England, Berkshire Magazine, WAMC, the Berkshire Eagle, MassLive, and numerous other outlets.
 
The 2024 call for artist submissions is now open at https://sculptureatthemount.artcall.org. A jury will select the sculptures for the 2024 exhibit, which will open on May 24, 2024 and remain onsite until October 20. Artist-led talks will again be made available to visitors and students of all abilities.

Tags: sculpture,   The Mount,   

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Morris Elementary's Odyssey of the Mind Team Earns Spot at World Finals

LENOX, Mass. — Superintendent Dr. William Collins and Principal Brenda Kelley shared that Morris Elementary School's Odyssey of the Mind team recently competed in regional competition, securing first place in their division and a spot in the World Finals.

Grade 5 students at Morris Elementary School are using their minds to solve complex, open-ended problems through Odyssey of the Mind.

Odyssey of the Mind is an educational program that challenges students to solve open-ended problems imaginatively and theatrically while working as a team. 

Students who participate in Odyssey of the Mind begin preparing for the workforce early, developing their skills in engineering, innovation and creative problem-solving. 

The team is comprised of Grade 5 students Les Freeman, Johnson Green, Anna Kennedy, Raquel Levin, Zachary Streeter, Levi Stern and Ethan Winger and is coached by Josh Levin, Kim Winger and Seth Lipkin.

They traveled to Edward Little High School in Auburn, Maine, on Saturday, April 5, for the regional competition, where they competed against 99 teams.

The Morris team solved the problem "AstronOMical Odyssey," in which teams were tasked to create a humorous performance set in a team-created "historical" civilization that explains constellations and presents original stories. The performance also included a humorous astronomer character with a "stellar" costume, a lighting effect and a shooting star.

The team's performance can be viewed here.

"These students have put in countless hours designing their own solution, building their own props, and bringing their ideas to life," said Coach Josh Levin. "What’s amazing is that the work these kids are doing will set them up to be successful at problem-solving using both engineering and creative skills. This is what it’s all about! They did absolutely everything themselves. That’s the really amazing thing. No parent help, just encouragement."

Their win at the regional competition earned them an invite to attend the World Finals at Michigan State University in East Lansing, MI, from May 20-24, where they will compete against more than 800 teams from around the world. 

The PTO is seeking donations to help send the small but mighty team of students to the World Finals. To contribute to the PTO's fundraising efforts, contact Ashley Turczak at ashley.turczak@gmail.com.

"Our Odyssey of the Mind team is a perfect example of the creativity and persistence that our student body possesses," said Principal Kelley. "These students worked incredibly hard to come out on top at the regional competition, and we hope to see them move on to display their innovative talents at the World Finals. Congratulations, and good luck!"

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